The New Ekiti Government House Complex

On 21 June 2014, Ekiti people will go to the polls to elect a new governmor who will be in office for the next four years. And when the new helmsman is sworn in, he will occupy a new Government House, being built on Ayoba Hiil, Ado Ekiti. As Mapo Hall is visible from a large section of Ibadan, Ekiti complex will also be from all parts of Ado ekiti, the state capital.

A grandeur to behold, the edifice is, symbolically, what the candidates are fighting for! However, critics went to town, describing it as a loopy project, arguing that does Governor Kayode want to turn himself to Bashorun Gaa, living on a hill, isolated from the masses? But he has an answer for them: In an interview with TheNEWS in Ado Ekiti, Governor Fayemi said:

“I could imagine what some people in the West said in 1959 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo launched WNTV, WNBS first in Africa. Is it television we are going to eat? Likewise when he built Cocoa House and Liberty stadium. Imagine the foresight. This government house will be there in 100 years. Fayemi is not going to take it to his village. It is going to become a tourist monument for the state. I am not aware of any government house in Ekiti in 18 years of being a state. If you go out there, you will see what is written on the plague outside this house. I am living in a presidential chalet for visiting presidents or guests of the governor. What we are building is not just a government house; it is a government house complex. It is a massive office for the governor, a banquet hall for events, a meeting place for dignitaries, and also a gallery for the state. If people do not understand, they should ask questions. In any case, is Ekiti a second class state? We are not a second class people. We are a proud people who want to be treated as decent people. Why is White House celebrated? Is it that Obama can’t live in his house? White house is a statement about the grandeur of the United States. It simply means that all that is needed is maintenance. No other governor will have to come here and build. With heavy rain this morning, the whole of this place was flooded. And this is government house. The government house leaks. It cannot even comfortably accommodate a family of five. All that I am doing is for the future of this state.”

The major contenders in the election are: the incumbent governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress APC, one time sacked governor of the state who is currently standing trial in the court of law bothering on corruption related offences, Mr. Ayo Fayose of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Honourable Opeyemi Bamidele of Labour Party, LP, member of House of Representatives representing Ado-Ekiti/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency.

Seventeen other contestants jostling for the exalted position (or the new Government House) are: Barrister Kole Ajayi of the Accord Party, AP, Dr Gbenga Afeni of the All Progressives Grand Alliance , APGA, Mr Bola Oroko of the African Democratic Congress , ADC , Mr Opeyemi Michael Osekita of the Action Alliance , AA, Engr. Goke Animashaun of the Progressive Peoples Alliance , PPA , Prince Bamigbade Peter of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria , ACPN, Mr Victor Oluseyi Osekita of the Alliance for Democracy , AD, Mrs Oluyo Folashade Aluko of the African Peoples Alliance , APA and Mr Francis Oluwafemi Idowu of the Citizens Popular Party , CPP, Pastor Ade Ogunkolade of the Kowa Party ,KP, Mr Ajibola Akinwale of Mega Progressive Peoples Party ,MPPP, Comrade Ilesanmi Bankole of the National Conscience Party , NCP and Prince Banjo Gboyega of the People for Democratic Change ,PDC, Evangelist Kehinde Rufus of the Peoples Party of Nigeria , PPN , Engineer Ayo Adeleke Adekole of the Social Democratic Party , SDP , Mr Philips Adeniji Akinropo of the United Democratic Party , UDP and Engr Odunayo Babatola Ogundana of the United Progressive Party , UPP .